Combination ladder



E. DARNELL ET AL July 3, 1923.

COMBINATION LADDER Filed April 17 1922 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1923.1,460,792

- E. DARNELL. ET AL COMBINATI ON LADDER Filed April 17, 1922 5Sheets-Sheet 2 v zjwvenfoz Ez gene Darnal? Louz's G. Cfmssz'dy July'3,1923. I k 1,460,792

7 E. DARNELL ET AL COMBINAII ON LADDER Filed April 1'7, 1922 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Egg ene Dar/762,2 Louis 6. Casaz'cjv July 3, 1923.

E. DARNELL ET AL COMBINATION LADDER Filed Apr-ii 17. i922 5 Sheets-Sheet4 z w w m mum W 0 2 a n a r aa D w 6 July 3, 1923.

E. DARNELL ET AL COMBINATION LADDER Filed April 17, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet5 a gne Darnell ouzLs G. Cassa'cgy Patented July 3, 1923.

v osnian nARN-EnL'ANnLours G. CASSIDY, orwroirrra-"KA sAs.

I ooMnINATIoN LADDER.

' ApPlicationffild"April'17, 1922; *"SerialNo. 553707."

' Toa'll whomr z't mag "concernr .=Be 11; known *that 'we, EUGENE"DARNELL and LoUIs' G- Cassimr, citizens of the United States, "residingat'WVichita, in the county-of Sedgw ick and S'tate of Kan'sasyhaveinvented'certain newand useful Improvements 1n Combination" Ladders, ofI which the followof the inventionis to'providea structure which willpermit a lir'nited pivotal movementof one section upon the "other,- andalso to provide awonstfuction which will-permit one-section toflbenested'within theother and" also slidablyadjusted with :respectthereto so-as' to'be brought into any desired relation therewith, andanother object-0f the inven tion '-is to provide a ladder which wlll 1be strong and "durable" and inexpensive to produce. The several statedobjects 'of'theinvention fan'd :other'objects which willincidentally'appear in the course of the follo wing description are'attained'insuch "a device as is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,-and the invention resides in certain novel I features whichwillbehereinafter first fully "described then more particularly pointedout'in the appended cla1ms'.

In the accompanying dr'awnigs- Figure'l'isa perspective-viewof ourimproved la d d'er arranged for use as astep ladder;

FigIQ'iS" a side elevation showing'the 'de- I I rung may be secureddirectly to the outer vice-arranged forus'e-asT-a' stair ladder Fig."3'is a front ielevation of portions-of the 'devi'ce' showing the mannerin whichithe sections are combinedto form an extension rFig-4 is'iasefction on the-'line '-44 of Fig. showing the manner which the minorsection' iS-engage'd withfltmdheld to' 'the' 'm-aj or section when thsections aIfe'arranged-to fOI-III- a'n-eXtensionia'd'd-er; I r

I is enlarged perspective view F ig. *6 is an enlarged perspective 'viewshowing onemeansofpreventing separation of the sections when they arearranged to fornia step ladder;

Fig. 71s a similar view embodiment of the invention;

upper end of the minor section; I '9 is'adetail view showing the .man-118F111 which the sections are held together when the device is arrangedas'a stairila'd- Figs. 10 and 11 are. detail perspective Vl6WSofportionsof the majorsectio-n;

';Fig. 12 is a detail sectional elevation showing another .F g. 1 8 's-a detail perspective view ofthe showing another embodiment .oftheinventi n;

F igs. 13 and 14 are detail views of the means for securing 3the'f-rungs' of {the "minor section. l

:In carrying out ouruinventiony Weeinploy two ladder sections 1 and2which,="for 'conven'ience, will be referred to as i the major sectionand the minor section respectively. The ma or section COIHPTISGS' sidebars,- each sent'two front'railsor bars 3 anda rear somewhat-larger railor bar connected-fby brackets-seas to be held in'fiXed t-riangu-larrelation and present a truss-like structure inserted into the memb'ersB;the {said boltsiorf fasteners-8 also passing into or through the rung 9so as. tov secure'the rung in place. It may be further notedthauwehaveillustrated the rung as setinto-mortises formed in theouter facesof'the members 3,.butthe faces of the :side bars .with-out "seating-inmortises,itsodesiredl In g- 'fW have shown abracketdO consistiiigo-i'a'tra'pezoida'l plate having de pendingifianges 11" at its paralleledges, and

these-"flanges are secured to" the" members "3 and 4 respectively, assho-w'nufj WVith either form of bracket, th member's of 'thesideba r aresecured rigidly in their desired relation so that a rigidstrongside barwill be pro-' duced. It willbe noted-uponreference to v(if-which islongitudinally split so astoprewhich will belight but'very strong anddu- Fig. 1 that the side bars are parallel through the greater portionof their length butfiared somewhat toward their lower ends and the minorsection 2 of the ladder may thus fit between the side bars ofthe majorsection and be guided thereby when being slid into the desired relation.

The lower ends of the side bars of the ma jor ladder section arebeveled, as indicated at 12, so that fiat surfaces will be provided topermit the said section to rest upon a der, as indicated in Fig. 4c, theends of the anchor plates 13 will engage in the ground or surface uponwhich the ladder rests so that slipping of the ladder will be prevented.I

In the form of-the invention illustrated I more particularly in Figs. 1and 6, the major ladder section is provided at its upper end with arung15 on its rear side approximately inthe same plane as the uppermost rung9 upon its front side and the minor ladder section is composed of sidebars ,16

adapted to slide between the said rungs 9.

and 15 and constructed at their upper ends upon their opposite sideswith notches -17 and 18, the notch 18 being disposed below the notch 17so that, if the minor section be engaged between the rungs 9 and 15 andthen slightly turned, the notch 17 will be brought into engagement withthe upper inner corner of the front rung 9 and the notch 18 will bebrought into engagement with the lower inner corner of the rung 15. Thewalls of the notches are disposed at right angles to each other andtheymay be reinforced by a metal wear plate 19 which may be extendedover the upper extremity of the respective side bar and along the frontand rear edges of the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The notches willfirmly engage the respective rungs so that, whenthe device is set up foruse as a step ladder, as shown in Fig. 1, spreading of the laddersections willbe prevented. To guard against c01 lapse of the sectionswhen the device is in use asa step ladder, we provide upon each side barof the major section, a latch 20 con sisting of a bar or elongated plateivoted at its lower end upon the rear side of the mem ber; 1 by a boltor similar device 21 and having its upper end notched, as indicated at22, to engage the longitudinally extendingcorner of the adjacent sidebar of the minor section, as willjbe readily understood upon referenceto Fig.6. The latch is a'lso constructed with a forwardly projectingflange 23 which may be used as a handle to masaid side bars and arepreferably secured-in place by such means as are shown in Figs. 13 and14. Therungs 24 are preferably circular in cross section and havetapered ends,

as indicated at 25. Through openings provided therefor in the side bars16 of the minor'ladder section, we insert thimbles-or sleeves 26 whichare provided with annular flanges 27 near their inner ends so as tolimit the extent to which the sleeves or thimbles may be insertedoutwardly through the side bars. ,Washers 28 may be employed, onefittingagainst the inner side of the side bar 16 between thesame and theflange27 and the other washer fitting against the-outer side of -thesidebar around the outer pros I jecting portion of the sleeve orthimble.

After the washers have been properly placed, the outer free end of thesleeve is upset, as indicated at 29, so that the thimble or sleeve willbe firmly secured in the side bar of the ladder section. The end of therung is fitted in the inner end of the sleeve and indentations 30 arethen formedin the sleeve in any desired number so as to firmly securethe rung therein. prevent its withdrawal. 1 p

Itwill, of course, be readily understood that the minor section is ofless width than the major section and may readily fit between theside-barsyof the major section so that, when the device is not in use,the two sections may be easily nested and, when; it is to be set upforuse the minor sectionmay be easily slid to the proper position. Theside bars of the minor section are provided at points intermediate theirends with other notches similar in all respects to the notches 17 and 18so that, if it be desired to usethe device as a stair ladder, as shownin Fig. 2, the two sections may be readily coupledso that the minorsection will-present -a's-horter weight-sustaining length than -themajor section and thereby permit the lower ends of the two sections torest upon different steps or upon other supporting surfaces havingdifferent elevations, as will beread ily understood upon reference toFig. 2'.

Immediately adjacentthe inner'faces of the side bars 16, we pivotallymount upon the lowermost rung '24:locking feet 31 which are connectedimmediately below said rung byf'a cross bar 32 wherebythe locking:-feetareheld in their proper; relation, and this cross bar furnishesnaconvenient handle whereby. the feet may be 'Iri' a-nipnlated' whe'n'lsetting; up the device as-an extensifon ladder, The. locking feet; 31vare {adapted torest upon a-i rung 9' of the'major section zmdarez-provided at their lower ends upon their opposite sides-- with.stop'; plates-:33" and 34, the

101, lower ends otwhichf depend'below the (re;

29? side bar. A bracket or lug 36 is also pro-1 spejctive feet a'sclearlyshownin Fig. 4.. A spring is arranged between each locking footand the respectively; adjacentv sidebar l6'and, in Figss3 and 4 thisspring is illustrated as a resilient" wire bow having;

its opposite ends secured respectively; to a locking; foot; and a sidebar, -the-.,fo1-e of the spring being constantly-exerted to maintain thelocking foot in alinementwith the vided upon the sidebar 16 below eachlooking foot .31 and between the plates33 and 34-. Whenthedevice is to.beused as an extension ladder, theminor section. is pro j ectedupwardly,betweenthe rungs 9 and 1 5 to the; proper degree and:thelocking feet are then swung rearwardlyso that the plates 33 will.clear; the immediately. su jacent-i rung} 9. The-minor'fisection is thenlowered slightlywh'ilethe locking feet'are in this rearwardpositi0n,,whereupon the,

. plate 33 will pass in rearof the rung9, as

clearly shown in Fig.- 4, the bracket or lug. 36,being disposed betweenthe rung and the plate 34. Movement of the lockingwfeet rel-" ative tothe ladder sections will thenbe :pivotally prevented inasmuchaswmovement in one. direction will be-stopped'nby the engagement of theplate 34 against the lug 36'and in the other direction by the; engage--ment of the plate 3 3 against. the rung 9 and. the two; 1adder sectionswill thus be positively held in the extended-relation vand-i the laddermay be fused without'fearjoffalling Upon reference; to"Fi .-3, it willbe readily'notedv thatthe cross bar or'handle 32 is so located that itwill be very slightly below the rung 15 and will not interfere with a.person ascending; or descending the ladder. When "the sect ons are to beseparated, i the minor section is raised slightly so that the stop plate33 may clear therung 9, whereupon the spring35-'will-. at once expandand swing the locking feet forwardly,

the forward movement being limited by. the said stop plates 33;impinging against the respective lugs or brackets 36L. In Fig. 5,. Well-3,176 shown a leaf spring; 371which; may

be used instead of the bow spring 35. This leaf spring is secured. atits upper end to.

the adjacent locking foot and has its: free end playing in a notch 38 ina bracket or lug 39"secu-red to and'projecting inwardly from theadjacent side bar 16. This ar=- rangement permits-the us'e. of astronger springnbut'.dpesinoteconomize spaeetoathe s me x nt; as thefirst described arrange. nie'ntf, "but; either form is within: the;scope;

of"ouniinvention-and either'form may be used as may be preferred.

far deScribedQtheSside bars of the minor; I

seotionzg are oij' 'rectangular c'rosssection; having their oppositefaces parallel a l;-the 5 7.5: i

notchesin said side bars extend afcross the entire thickness of, thesame; The side bars 1 may.,'howev er ,-be constructedw'ith longitudinalribs 40 upontheir outer sides and the" notches may; be-iorme'dthroughiithese ribs-,-,

as indicated. at 41. Instead, ofi employingthe rungs 15,; we-Inay,provide metallic locking andQsupp rting heads; 42 at? the upper ends ofthe-side ,-bars of the major section; v

.ing engagementi'with the-longitudinal ribs 40; Oneflangej43qisdisposedpat the under; or rear side of the; major-section-and extends.- 3

portion of this fiai lge is projected outwardly.

to .present'. a socket? or notch '44, the walls :of

parallehfthroughfiitslowerqportiom; with- V the edge OfljhBmajjor'sectiofmbut the upper whicharedisposedsubstantially at arightceiveltheupper;extremity-of the? rib orlflange 40. Spacedinwardly-from the fl'ange143 aretion and depending-below the-loweredgeof upperand lower flanges; or "ribs- 45, and 46, theflower flange-"46beingof varcu'ateqforma the-main portion of. the-casting or head. Theupper flange 45v has its upper- -extr'emity 47 disposedpara-llel.withtheflarige 43; ,whilei v I angle toeachiother and arefl adapted-tore,

the-lower. portion o-ffth'is flange 45 extends;

arcuate. flange 46.. metallic reinforcing and wear plate 48 'm-ayiibeprovided around the upper extremityof the side-barof rthe; minor sectionand the notch 41 is flared, as

forwardly; and downwardlyiin' a straight l ne andterminates insp acedrelation to the shownfin Fig. 8, so' th-a'tit may readily en gage thearouat'e flange 46. A wear plate 49 f is secured uponlthe side-bar's 16at; an intermediate point ofthe" length thereof andi this wear plate isconstructed with spaced notches or slotsf5o corresponding with slotsor'notchesformedthrough the rib or flange 7 v 40' of the side-bar. Whenthe device isto-be used. as: a: stair ladder; theminor sectionis Sllhupon; themajzor-seotion with-the: rib. or

flange 40 passing-between and guided by the Q flange: members 43" and47: until thenot'c'hesl 50' are in: a-linement with the flange; 46" andthe extremity of the socket or angular flangev -44",v after which'the vminor ,section" ismoved pivotally soilthat the notch'es 5O. will ire-1spectively engage the said flange 46-and the upper Ewall of r the flangedo!" socket as shown'clearly in Fig; 9. The two sections will thus beeffectually held together so that they will not separate while theladder is in 55 and against the stop flange 54, as'shown" use andthelatch 20-may,jof course,-be

swung into engagementwithtm minor section to further aid in holding-themagainst separation; It willbe readily noted that the flange 46 isengagedpositively. by the o'pposite walls'of the lower 'notchi50 "andthe upper wall of the socket 4A is 'likewlse engaged -by the opposite--'walls of the upper notch 50,whilethe sides of the flange or rib 4O'rest' j'against the lower wall of the socket 445 and the lower portion'ofthe flange 45,"an ample support for any {ordinaryv weight being-thusprovide-d.

-In F l2,we have shown a further en} bodiment of our invention in whichthe side bars 51 of themajorladder section'havesecured to their upperfe'nds heads- 52 which fit against the outer sides and the rear edges ofthe said side bars and project inwardly beyond the inner sidesof saidbars. At the rear edgeof the side bar 51; the head 52 presents-astraight tlange"53 parallelwith the side bar and *a short outwardly anddownwardly extending flange 54 at thelow-- er end of said guidingflange53.-' 1'Atthe oppositeedge of the "side bar 51, the head presents anupwardly-flaring nought or channel 55 havinga'notch 56 inits rearedgeandfrom-the lower end of this channel ashort/ guiding flange or lip57 depends The minor ladder section has its side bars .58 of rectangularcross section and the rungs 59 are'securedto and extend between the samein any desired manner. "When the de vice is to be used as aste'p ladderorastair ladder,-.the minor section is merely slid upon the majorsection to the desired ;degree, the side bars of the-minor section being guided bythe flanges57 and '53-, and, when the desired position hasbeen reached, the minor section is rocked or swung pivotally so that arung59fw'illenterthe notch 56 and the opposite edges of 'the'side bar 58will bear against the base "of the "channel in Fig. 12 and as will bereadily understood. This arrangement provides for a very quick and easyadjustment of the minor section relative to the major section and isvery cheap without losing'any efiiciency.

WVhena short straight ladder-is'desired,

either: s'ection'of'our device-may be employed for that purpose, thesections being disconnected by merely swinging Y the minor 1 sectioninto position between the sides of themajorsection and then sliding itl0ngitudinally of the major section so that it will clear thelockingand'sustaining flanges upon themajor section. Inasmuch as theminor se ction will'fit easily between-'the'sidebars oft the majorsection, the device, when notin use, may be stored ma small space andthey may be likewise nested when they are to be transported. 7 While inthe accompanying drawings we have shown in detail only one side o'f'theladoler it will-,of course, be understood that all the describedconstruetion is duplicated at the twosid-esof the-lad der and ;thelocking and supportig means also constitute guiding means for holdi theminor sectioninproper' relation to the major section in the adjustmentof the' de-' vice. The anchoring, or looking feet carried? by thelowerend of theminor sectionengage the ma or-,sectlo'n 1n such'a manner as toct fectual].yprevent slipping of the minor section when the devlce.isarranged vas an ex so a tension ladder and the notches in the minorsection' engaging theflanges'or rungs of the a major section effectuallyp reventspreading' of the device when it is; arranged as a'step ladderwas a stair ladder, while the latches pivoted upon the major section andarranged.

to engage the minor section will eflec'tually it is used as a stepladder or a stair ladder .without marring the surface upon which it.

may be set up while at the same time a gripping actlon may be had whenthe device is set up upon the ground for use as an extension ladder. Ourdevice becombined in any desired manner by any person without loss oftime and with little labor and terially below the cost'oi separateladders capable ofthe various uses to whichjour de vice may be put.While we have shown and ,may be produced at acost which is very a;

described'several embodiments of the inven= tion, it is to be understoodthat we do not limit ourselves to the exact construction'dis-' closed,but various changes maybe made therein withoutdepartingfrom thespirit orscope of the inventionflas the same is'de fined in the following claims,v Having thus described'the invention, what is claimed as'new isz' li 1. A ladder comprising" a major section" consisting of sidebars andrungs extending between the side b ars,"a minor section consisting'ofsidebars and rungs extending be tween the'side bars, the minor sectionbeing adapted to fit between the side bars of .125

the 'major section, locking "feet pivotally" mounted on a' rung of theminor section" and provided at; their lower ends with means to engage arung on the major section, a cross bar connecting the block-'- ing; feetI just below their pivotalmounting, resilient connections-betweenthelock' ing feet 1 and the minor section "holdin'gathe lockingfeet'normally away; from the major section, and means for'limiting thepivotal movement of the= lockingz feet in adirection away from-"the major section. a

2 A-ladder comprisinga-maj or section consisting of sidebars and rungsextending. :between the side bars, a-minor section-consisting of sidebars and rungs extending between: the same, the minor sectionbei-ngiadapted to fit between the side bars of the major section,locking feet pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the minor section,means on the minor section in constant engagement with the locking feetyieldably holding them away from the major section, stop plates carriedby and depending from the lower ends of said locking feet, one of saidplates being adapted to engage a rung of the major section, and stops onthe minor section between the stop plates.

3. A ladder comprising a major section consistlng of side bars and rungsextending between the side bars, a minor section adapted to fit betweenthe side bars of the major section, locking feet pivotally mounted uponthe lower end of the minor section, means on the minor section forlimiting the pivotal movement of the locking feet away from the majorsection, yieldable means normally holding the locking feet inlongitudinal alinement with the sidebars of the minor section, and meanson said locking feet to engage a rung of the major section.

at. A ladder comprisinga major section, a minor section adapted to fitwithin the major section and slidable thereon, means for locking theminor section to the major section in a set position, the lower ends ofthe side bars of the major section each having an angularly disposedsupporting face at one side, and an anchoring plate secured to the lowerend of each of said side bars at the side thereof, opposite thesupporting face, said anchoring plates being inoperative when the barsrest on said supporting faces.

5. A ladder comprising a major section, a minor sectlon adapted to fitslidably with- 1n the major section, means for pivotally ad usting theminor] section upon the major section, and means for holding thesections in a set position, the side bars of the major sectionconsisting of three longitudinally ex-' tending members disposed intriangular relation, and brackets bridging the areav between the saidmembers and having angularly disposed portions secured to the members.

6. A ladder comprising side bars, thimbles inserted through said sidebars and provided adjacent their inner ends with flanges to limitoutward movement thereof and hav ing their outer ends upset whereby tosecure the-'thim'bles the side -b'a rs,: rungs' havingtheir endsifittedin'the inner ends of -said thimbles, .andindentations in; the inner endsof' the I th'imbles embeddedin said rungs;

7. A ladder comprisinga major-section, minor section; adapted to ;fitwithin the major section, meansfor permittingalirnv lted pivotalmovementof theminor SEC/1011 relative; to, the maj orv section, and, latchespivoted uponthe wmajor section and proengage the adj acent: corners of;the minor 8. A ladderfcomprising a major section,

a minor section adapted to fit within the major section, means forpermitting a limited pivotal movement of the minor section relativetothe major section, and latchesconsisting of fiat plates pivoted at theirlower ends upon the rear sides of the major section and having notchesat their upper inner corners to engage the adjacent corners of the minorsection and having forwardly projecting flat handle members at' theirinner edges adjacent said notches.

' 9. A ladder comprising a major section, heads secured to the upper endof the major section and provided on their inner sides with inwardlyprojecting flanges presenting straight parallel portions and angularlydisposed stop'portions, and a minor section having longitudinal ribsupon its sides adapted to slide between and be guided by the parallelportions of said flanges and having notches in said ribs adapted toengage the angularly disposed portions of the flanges upon pivotalmovement of the minor sections whereby interlocking engagement betweenthe sections will be effected,

10. A ladder consisting'of a'maj or section,

heads secured tothe upper end of said sec tion and having lateralflanges on their inner faces, one of said "flanges having, a

straight portion extending along the edge of the section, and an offsetportion defin' ing an angular socket projecting from the edge of thesection at the end thereof, another flange having an endflportionparallel with the straight portion ofthe firstmentioned flange and anobliquely disposed portion depending from I said end portionparallelnwith a wall of the socket in the first-mentioned flange, andanother flange defining an arc extendingv from a point be low and-inalinementwith the oblique portion of the second-mentioned flange to a.point below and spaced transversely of the section from the lower end ofthe firstmentioned flange, and a minor section having longitudinal ribson its outer sides adapte'd-toslidebetween the parallel portions of thefirst and second-mentioned flanges, said ribs having notches thereinwhereby the minor section'may be moved pivotally relative to the majorsection and effect engagement of the end of said section withthe-angular sockets of the first-mentione'd flanges and engagement ofthe said notches With the last-mentioned flanges to prevent separationof the sections.

11'. A ladder comprising a major section,

heads secured-to the upper end of said section and having guidingportionsparallcl With the section and lateral angularly. dis posedchannels and stops,the channels each having anotch in one wall,. andvaminor section slidable between said guiding por-' tions and adapted torock into engagement with the stops andchannels With a rung resting inthe notches in the channels. In testimony whereof We affix our signatures. Y

' EUGENE DARNELL. [L.S.] LOUIS G. CASSIDY. [n.s]

